Loretta "Babe" Woodard

Affectionately known to most everyone as “Babe,” she got her nickname because she was the youngest of eight children. She had a twin sister nicknamed “Tom,” because she was a tomboy. The twins were inseparable throughout their lives together.

Babe, who retired from Riverside Furniture, was a member of Christian Grove Freewill Baptist Church in Pocola, Oklahoma.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Elton Woodard; second husband James Miller; companion Paul Lennier; four brothers John, George, Meadows, and Logan Howard; and three sisters Lucille Gray, Louise Harris, and twin Almetta “Tom” Clark.

She is survived by sons Larry (June), Phil (Anita) and Randy Woodard, all of Fort Smith. She was known as “Grandma” or “Mammy” to six grandchildren Lance (Lisa) Woodard of Fayetteville; Larry Woodard, Jr., of Fort Smith; Jennifer (Steven) Atchley of Fort Smith; Brandy (Marc) Lindsey of Lavaca; Cory Woodard of Fort Smith; and Courtney (Craig) Boerner of Nashville, Tennessee. She also had eight great grandchildren, two step great grandchildren, and a sister-in-law Virginia Howard.

Funeral service will be held Friday, August 19, at 2:30 p.m. at Edwards Funeral Home, with burial to follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Fort Smith. There will be no visitation.

Memorial contributions can be made to Goddard Methodist Food Pantry, 1922 Dodson Avenue, Fort Smith, AR 72901.